Claudia

Reality crashed back in, making me gasp as sharp, stabbing pains shot through my body. I gulped for air, my eyes fluttering open as I realized I had no idea who this man was. He had his hands on me. He held me in such a way like he knew me, owned me, saw me. Panic set in, and I pushed him away. “Get off me!” I yelled feebly, my voice weak. Slowly, his warm hands left my body. He looked hurt and disappointed as I struggled to sit up. I noticed his hands twitching as if he wanted to reach out and touch me again.

Shooting pains from my shoulder and ribs spasmed as I moved. The man reached for me again, his expression pained as those intense eyes watched me with concern. “Who are you?” I stammered, stopping him in his tracks. His face fell, as though I should know who he was. He quickly masked his hurt, his jaw tightening.

I wiped away my tears, the salt stinging my cheeks. He stood tall, towering above me. I noticed his eyes drift toward my hand, where the ring on my fourth finger caught his attention. His lips pressed into a tight line. I quickly moved my hand from view, feeling uneasy under his gaze.

“Do you know how long I’ve been searching for you?” His voice was soft, like a lover’s caress, but the weight of his words was heavy. He loomed above me, making me feel small and vulnerable. It wasn’t just his height. I could feel his strength and power as if it was tangible, hanging in the air between us. When I didn’t answer, a deep frown settled between his brows. Even annoyed, he was still by far the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Perhaps I had passed out. The blood loss must have made me hallucinate a handsome stranger to rescue me.

“You need help. Let me take you to a doctor,” he offered, leaning down to lift me into his arms. But I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. “No, don’t,” I persisted, my voice trembling. He swallowed, stepping back. His fingers lightly brushed against me, sending a tingle of electricity through my body that had me shrinking away.

There was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t place it. I shivered in the frigid air, trying to focus through the haze of pain. He shrugged off his expensive-looking tweed jacket and pulled it around my shoulders. A small smile tugged at my lips in thanks as I let the heat seep into my bones.

“You need help, or you will lose your baby,” his voice was cold and stern, snapping me out of my brief moment of comfort. I swallowed hard, blinking as I realized I wasn’t hallucinating. He was real. He was standing right in front of me. That’s when it clicked, like a penny dropping to the floor. A memory stirred, foggy but undeniable. I realized why I knew this man.

He had a bounty on his head for killing an Alpha of a nearby pack.

A scream ripped from my throat as I scrambled away from him, blood pooling between my legs. My voice was raw as I begged for help, shouting Braden’s name, praying he could hear me. I was so close to the house. The stranger’s eyes darkened, his expression hardening as my panic set in. His menacing growl echoed through the trees, and fear took root deep in the pit of my stomach.

Why was he here? What did he want? And where was Braden?

The sound of a door banging in the distance sent relief coursing through me. Loud, angry footsteps echoed through the night, and I knew Braden was coming. My heart skipped a beat, the numbness overtaking the pain as I let the knowledge settle in. He’s coming for me.

The stranger’s gaze remained fixed on me, as if he was calculating his next move. “Leave with me now. You don’t belong here,” he urged, stepping closer. But I shook my head. I couldn’t leave. I could barely sit up, let alone flee with this man. His chest rumbled with frustration, that same pained expression crossing his face as he watched me, like he was committing every detail of my features to memory.

“Who the fuck are you? Get away from my wife!” Braden’s voice cut through the air like a blade. His steps were heavy, hurried. Relief flooded through me as I knew he would protect me. But the stranger didn’t take his eyes off me, his body rigid, poised to react. I clutched my stomach, sinking lower into the cold, hard ground.

Braden was almost here. It would be alright. I just needed to hang on a little longer.

The stranger’s attention flicked briefly toward Braden, and in that moment, everything snapped into chaos. A roar tore through the night as Braden launched himself at the stranger. I blinked, my vision growing spotty as I tried to focus on the scene in front of me. The two men collided with a sickening thud, their bodies rolling across the forest floor in a blur of fists and fury.

“Braden!” I cried out desperately, my voice cracking, but the wind howled too loudly for my words to carry. The two figures continued to wrestle, their growls and howls blending into the night. My head swam, dizziness overtaking me as I fought to stay awake.

Through my blurred vision, I saw two wolves now circling each other. A massive black wolf with glowing red eyes lunged, sinking its teeth into the other. I screamed, my throat raw as terror ripped through me. The black wolf howled to the sky before charging toward me, blood dripping from its maw.

Finally, Braden's familiar scent—leather, cedar, and smoke—reached me. My eyes opened as relief washed over me as he knelt beside me, his face etched with worry. “Claudia, are you alright? Shit, we need to get you to the hospital,” he murmured, his voice thick with concern.

I leaned into his touch as he slid his arm around my waist, lifting me into his arms. The world blurred around me, but I knew one thing: I was safe.